Former Arsenal midfielder John Jensen has taken up the job at first-team coach of Denmark, amid a commercial image rights dispute between the Danish Football Association (DBU) and their players.

The DBU are currently in a dispute with regular starters like Christian Eriksen, Andreas Christensen and Kasper Schmeichel over image rights. As a result, they’re all refusing to sign a new deal to play for the national team. Even the manager Age Hareide has temporarily stood down from his role.

That’s where Jensen comes in, who has taken the job on a temporary basis to fulfil Denmark’s planned fixtures against Slovakia and Austria. As it stands, the team he plays in those matches will be made up of Danish second division and Futsal league players.

Despite getting a chance to lead his national team, Jensen isn’t pretending there are any positives to the current situation.

“Where we are now, I see only losers in the conflict, and Danish football loses most of all,” he said. “When I say yes to help here, it’s because I feel very strong for the national team as an institution, and because I think the most important thing must be that the games will be played.

“I just hope to help us get through the two matches and that the parties find a solution as soon as possible. The national team has meant infinitely much to me in my career and in my life. It hurts to follow this course, and I hope my contribution can help mitigate the negative consequences.”

In all honesty, Denmark and Jensen will probably just be hoping to avoid a complete embarrassment against Slovakia on Wednesday night. Without their best players, the squad they’ve cobbled together hardly stand a chance.

Jensen played for Arsenal from 1992 to 1996, making 99 league appearances for the club and scoring three goals. He also made 69 appearances for Denmark in his playing days, before moving into management in 1999. We wish him the best in his tough task this week.